no matter which institution you would like to go for I will say you better buy them rather than build them by yourself due to....

1. can you make sure all configuration are accurate? even one of the devices with mininal command not match, you will never able to simulate the exam requirement and path
2. use money to exchange with you time and earn them back in your real life rather than you use 90% power for building a Lab then rest of the 10% to go for solution.
3. you can have most update news from other colleuges directly on that day or that week rather than you have to wait for update in forum.
4. as CCIE exam changes their stuffs randomly, that's better finish with 3-4 months to aviod lab changes.

you can study by yourself but the problem you have to calculate you use half year for the whole journey or you use 3 - 4 months then use that spared 1 - 2 months to get other job for better income?